Design Principles

Safety and Surveillance

Lighting and active street frontages can improve the perception of safety particularly at night time
Source: Pamela Miller Photographer

Perceptions of safety influence the nature and extent that people use spaces and places. Street and place design that aims to reduce crime can enhance the physical, mental and social wellbeing of a community.

Public spaces, walking and cycling routes, entrances and exits to buildings and public transport facilities that are designed for safe use can improve perceptions of safety and encourage people to use them and therefore be more physically active.

The provision of well-designed and maintained places and facilities where all members of the community can meet and socialise can also enhance social capital and increase the likelihood of people feeling safe and secure.

How to Achieve

Sightlines – ensure that routes have good sightlines to entrances and exits with landscaping pruned to ensure that sightlines are clear and opportunities for surveillance enabled

Lighting - lighting of public spaces and routes used at night can improve safety and surveillance and increase useage

Active frontages – design buildings to provide natural surveillance of the street. For example, windows overlooking footpaths, and building entrances facing the street that are easily visible and accessible from the street frontage and other building exits that are lit and have direct links to car parks and footpaths

Public open space - locate parks, play areas and public open spaces so they are visible from adjoining buildings such as houses, streets and schools

Car parks - design car parks to maximise natural surveillance and pedestrian visibility and ensure that there is safe and convenient pedestrian access